Signal switch



Feb. 20, 1951 H. c. ROWE 2,5 47

SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Oct. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 20, 1951 c.ROWE; 2,542,947

SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Oct. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 20,1951 UNITED Si'I ATES PATENT OFFICE Harry G. Rowe, Chicago, Ill.assignor to Nutone, Incorporated, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of New.Aprl c ti n Oc ber '15, 1947. Se i l No. 779.1 99

This invention relates .to electric signaling devices and isdirected'particularly to improvements in a motor driven control switchwhich is adapted to be used conjunction with signals of the multiplechime type, for sounding a series of tones upon operation of a signalcontrol button.

The conventional multi-chime signal unit, of the type used frequently inhomes; consists of a number of signal or sound producing elements,solenoids or electromagneticstrikers, for energizing the signal unitsserially or successively, and, usually a motor driven control switch bywhich the solenoids, or strikers, are energized in a progressivepredetermined sequence, The conventional chime usually contains .threeor four elongated chime tubes as the signal elements, and thesechromatically .are tuned to produce .a pleasant sequence of notes whenstruck in predetermined order. Repeat actuation of the push button willcause a repetition of the notes through a successive cycle of, operationof the motor operated switch.

The principal objective of this invention has been to provide a simple,inexpensive motor operated switch which, selectively during a cycle ofoperation, is effective to produce, di'fierent numbers of notes orsounds in repetitive order or in different order. Thus, use'dinconjunction with a four element signal, the switch may be setconveniently to cause only four notes in succession to besounded uponeach operation of the push button controller, or the switch may be setto cause four notes to be sounded .in succession, followed by a repeatcycle, of one to four notes, depending upon the number of contacts usedin the switch. In the alternative, the contacts may be arranged to soundonly two or three notes selectively, or two-or .threenotes, followed by.a succession of two or three or four'no'tes, depending upon the sounde'fiect which is most desirable to the user. The numberof notes soundedwill depend, of course, upon the number of contacts utilized in theswitch.

In this manner, a single motor driven switch may be adjustedconveniently to cause energization of all of the notes of a tchime orsignal element, or to cause a repetitive succession of such notes asdesired. 7

The switch of the invention in the preferred construction-comprises amotor, havinga suitable gear reduction train, a contact arm,.andacontact panel, whichis made in sectors. Thesesec tors carry contactswhich are in circuit connectionwith solenoids oreledtromagneticstrikersof 6 Claims.- (01.200-37) 4 the signal unit, but one or bothsectors are relatively shiftable into or out .of the path of movement orthe contact arm. Hence, if all con- .tacts are in the path of movement,circuits are completed through all of the contacts as the arm sweepsover the contacts successively, and aseries, or a double series of noteswill be sounded, according to the circuit connections of the contactswith the respective electromagnetic strikers. If one or the other of thesectors is shiited out of the path of movement of the contact arm, thenonly those contacts remaining in the path of movement will be energized,and notes will be sounded in accordance with the circu'i't connection of'suchcontacts with the respective electromagnetic actuators. Thus, theapparatus, by way of example, may embody two sectors, each having iourcontacts. When both sectors are in position ior operative engagement ofthe contact arm with the contact on the sectors, four notes willbesounded, followed by four other notes,.but when the shifitable sectoris moved into non-operative position, four notes only will be sounded,after which the contact arm will move to its starting .pos'itionand thenstop to await ree'nergiz'ing of the .motor through the push button. It.is apparent that a wide variety of note sequences, or repetitions, maybe obtained using additional sectors or various arrangements of contactson the sectors.

.From the foregoing principles upon which the inventionis based, and thefollowing detailed description of the drawings in which a typicalembodiment of the improvement is illustrated, those skilled in the artreadily will comprehend the various modifications to which the inventionis susceptible.

,In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a Side elevation of the switch and motor unit of theinvention.

fFigureZ is a top elevational view of the switch and motor unit.

vFigure 13 .is a sectional view of the switch taken along line .33 ofFigure '1.

Figure 4 is ,a front elevaticnafl view showing the ,iSWitc'h ,panelsectors ,both in operative positions, and so arranged that more thanoneseries of notes :are sounded.

Figure 5 .is a view similar tojFigure i with one of ,fth'e switchsectors out of operative position where'byonly oneseriescf notes ;issounded. I

Figure '6 is .a diagrammatic representation of arotor control disc ofthe units and its attendant brushes whemthe rotor discis in aninoperative posi i Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of therotor disc and brushes after the disc has begun to revolve.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the rotor disc and switchpanel showing the contacts in operative engagement with a contactcarried on a sector of the switch.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation similar to Figure 8 but withone sector moved to inoperative position.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the wiring arrangement ofthe switch and one representation wiring diagram of the circuits betweenthe switch contacts and related electro strikers.

The drive motor and gear reduction apparatus which furnishes the powerfor the switch may be of conventional construction and therefore is notshown in detail. Essentially this portion of the apparatus, indicatedgenerally at I0, comprises a field coil and pole pieces |2 whichsurround a rotor housing IS. The rotor contained within the housing isin driving connection with the gear reduction unit enclosed within acasing M, the reduction unit being constructed to translate therelatively high speed of the motor to a suitable slow speed foroperation of the switch. The motor and gear reduction unit is fastenedto a base plate by means of spacers I6 and screws ll.

The switch assembly, to which the present invention is directed, ismounted upon the base plate l5, on the side opposite the motor and gearreduction unit. This switching assembly comprises sectors i8 and I9carrying signal circuit contacts indicated generally at 20, a rotor orcontrol disc 2|, a contact arm 22 which, in the embodiment shown, isfabricated as a part of the assembly of the control disc 2|, and a pairof brushes 23 and 24 which cooperate with the control disc 2|. Brushes23 and 24, in conjunction with the control disc 26 constitute a holdingcircuit through which the motor is energized after initial energizationthrough a push button controller or the like. The switch arm 22 on theother hand serves the contacts 20 through which signal strikers may beenergized.

The contact carrying sectors l8 and I9 are relatively shiitable into andout of the circular path of movement of the contact arm 22. In theembodiment shown, a construction satisfactory for simple commercialpurposes is provided by pivotal mounting of only one of the sectors l9,about a pivot 25 while the other sector I8 is stationary. The sectorsmeet along a circular line 26 which is concentric with respect to theaxis of rotation of the arm 22 inwardly of the annular row of contactswhich are carried by the sector l9. Hence if the sector I9 is shiftedoutwardly, as shown in Figure 5, its contacts are removed from the pathof movement of the contact arm 22.

The details of construction of the elements utilized for maintaining acircuit to the motor throughout a cycle of operation thereof are shownmechanically in Figures 1 and 3 and diagrammatically in Figures 6, 7 and10. For this purpose brushes 23 and 24 are fastened to opposite sides ofan insulator block 28 which in turn is secured to the base plate |5 bymeans of a screw 29. These brushes at their forward end are configuratedto ride the periphery of control disc 2| while the opposite ends of thebrushes are provided with terminals 30 to which lead wires 3| aresoldered. Control disc 2| is seated upon the counter-turned portion of abushing 32 and is fastened to the bushing by spinning over the end ofthe counterturn portion. The bushing, in turn, is mounted upon a stubshaft 33 extending from the gear train I4, the shaft passing through asuitable clearance opening in the base plate l5. Disc 2|, as shown bestin Figures 6 and 7, has a gap in its periphery which is so dimensionedin width that contact with brush 24 is avoided when the disc reaches aposition of alignment. Hence, a circuit to the motor is completedthrough brushes 23 and 24 when both are in engagement with the peripheryof disc 2|, and the circuit is disrupted as the gap passes one of thebrushes 23. The brushes are spaced relatively close adjacent to oneanother so that the rotor by inertia will continue to rotate until itreaches a position of alignment with the other brush 24;

The details of construction of the contact sectors are shown best inFigures 1, 2, 4 and 5. As previously indicated, in the embodiment shown,the sector I8 is stationary and is mounted by means of screws 35 uponspacers 36 which in turn project from the base plate l5. Movable contactsector |9 is riveted as at 25, to the stationary sector I8. The movablesector has a lever arm 31 fixed to it by rivets 38 and this lever armpro jects beyond the sector, terminating in a handle portion 33 whichrides within a slot 40 provided in the base plate |5. For the purpose ofretaining the movable sector in closed position a spring clip 4|projects from the stationary sector I8 and terminates in a detentportion 42 which engages an edge of a slot 44 cut into or through themovable sector IS. A leaf (not shown) may be mounted upon the stationarysector I8 just beneath the spring clip 4| to support the movable sector|9 against the pressure of the spring clip.

Stationary sector I8 is equipped with contacts 20 arranged in an annularrow concentric with the axis of rotation of the control arm 22. Thiscontrol arm is fastened by means of a rivet 45 to the control disc 2 l,but is sprung from the plane of the control disc for resilientengagement with the contacts 20 so as to sweep them during its rotation.In the preferred construction, control arm 22 has two buttons near itsend, one 43, for engaging the contacts 20 and the other 46 for ridingupon the surface of the sector |8 when the sector 9 is swung out of theway.

Like the sector l8, sector l9 also has contacts 20 so positioned thatthey are in the path of movement of the arm 22 so as to be engaged bycontact button 43 thereof when the sector I9 is in closed position asshown in Figure 4. Thus the support of the contact arm is accomplishedby button 46 which rides upon the surface of the stationary sector whenthe movable sector is not in position to afford support, as shown inFigures 8 and 9.

A typical signal circuit of the type which the switch of the presentinvention is adapted to serve is shown in Figure 10. Thisrepresentatively comprises four solenoids or electromagnetic actuators50, 5|, 52 and 53, each positioned when energized to sound itsrespective chime or signal element 54. The winding of the motor I0 isenergized from leads 55 and 56, these leads being taken respectively tothe terminals of the brushes 23 and 24, and a push button switch, 51,has its terminals in short circuiting connection with the brushes 23 and24 through leads 58 and 59. Thus, when the push button switch is closedwhile brush 24 is in alignment with the gap in rotor disc 2|, a circuitis established to lead 55 through brush terminal 23 to lead 59 throughthe switch 51 and back through lead 58 to the input lead 55. In

consequence the motoroperates, driving disc 2| to a point where bothbrushes engage it and complete the circuit through it, whereupon themotor continues to operate until the circuit is disrupted throughsubsequent alignment of the gap in the disc with brush 23, followed byovertravel to bring the gap in alignment with brush 24.

In the signal switching circuit, arm 22 is driven by the motor intosuccessive engagement with contacts 20 of the first sector, and theninto engagement with the contacts of the second sector if the latter isin closed position. As shown in Figure 10 one terminal of each of thesolenoids 50 to 53 inclusive is in respective connection with thecontacts 20 of the stationary sector through the leads 6!], 6|, 62 and63 respectively. The other terminals of the solenoids 56 to 53 inclusiveare in connection with the common feeder 64 which is connected through aline 65 to the input terminal 55. Lead 65, if desirable, may contain aresistor 66 for adjustment of tone volume. Contact arm 22, being inelectrical connection with disc 2!, is energized through brush 24 fromthe input terminal 56, and as contact arm 22 sweeps past the respectivebuttons 20 solenoids 53, 52, and 50 successively are energized. Thecontacts 20 on the movable sector l9 are energized through flexibleterminals 61 (Figure 4) taken to the respective leads 6 I, 62 and 63.Thus when sector I!) is in closed position contact arm 22 causes thesolenoids to be energized in a second succession of notes or in adifferent succession of notes depending upon the manner in which thecontacts of the second series are connected to the contacts of the firstseries.

The wiring diagram shown in Figure 10 is representative only and thoseskilled in the art will readily comprehend various modifications whichmay be utilized to produce different numbers of notes or note sequencesdepending upon the number of contacts and the relative interconnectionof the contacts'utilized in the respective sectors. For instance, onesector may have more or less contacts than the other, in which eventdifferent combinations and numbers of notes may be sounded in a completecycle of revolution of the contact arm. The apparatus in a simpleinexpensive manner enables the house holder or user to select the typeof signal which is most pleasing or useful for his purposes.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An electrical switch for controlling the cyclic operation of chimescomprising; a rotatable shaft, a contact arm carried by the shaft, apanel disposed in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft, a series ofcontact elements fixed on the panel and disposed concentrically withrespect to the axis of said shaft in a circle normally to be wiped bysaid contact arm, the said contact elements on the said panel beingadapted for electrical connection with means for sounding a sequence ofchimes, said panel being divided into sectors with a portion of the saidseries of contact elements on each sector, one of said sectors being infixed relationship with respect to said shaft, and at least one other ofthe said sectors being pivotally mounted and adapted to be shifted withrespect to the shaft, whereby in the shifted position the contactelements carried by the pivotally mounted sector are out of position tobe wiped by the said contact arm.

2. In combination with an electric motor and a speed reduction unitmounted in a frame, and a shaft adapted to be driven by said motorthrough said speed reduction unit, an electric switch for controllingthecyclic operation of chimes comprising; a control member mounted on theshaft, said member adapted to effect cyclic operation of the motor, acontact arm adapted to rotate with the shaft, a sectional panel mountedon the frame in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft, a series ofcontact elements fixed on said panel in a circle concentric with theaxis of the shaft in a position to be wiped normally by said contactarm, the contact elements being adapted'for electrical connection withmeans for sounding a. sequence of chimes, one sector of the sectionalpanel being fixed to the frame and another sector of the panel beingpivotally journalled on the frame, each sector having fixed to it aportion of the series of contact elements, with the pivoted sector beingadapted to be moved to a position in which the contact elements fixedthereon are out of position to be wiped by the said contact arm.

3. An electric switch comprising; a frame, a panel mounted on the frame,a rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation disposed on a line normalto the panel, a contact arm carried by the shaft and extending radiallytherefrom, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposedconcentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft in a circle to bewiped normally by the contact arm, said panel bein divided into sectorswith a portion of the said series of contact elements on each sector,one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect to theframe, and at least one other of the said sectors being pivotallymounted on the frame and adapted to be shifted away from the shaft,whereby in the shifted position the contact elements carried by thepivotally mounted sector are out of position to be wiped by the saidcontact arm.

4. An electric switch comprising; a frame, a panel mounted on the frame,a rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation on a line normal to thepanel, a contact arm carried by the shaft and extending radiallytherefrom, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposedconcentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft in a circle to bewiped normally by the contact arm, said panel being divided into sectorswith a portion of the series of the 'said contact elements on eachsector, one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect tosaid shaft, at least one other of the said sectors being pivotallymounted and adapted to be shifted away from the shaft whereby in theshifted position the contact elements carried by the pivotally mountedsector are out of position to be wiped by the said contact arm, saidfixed sector having a continuous surface in a circle concentric withrespect to the axis of the shaft but inwardly of the circle to be wipedby the contact arm, for supporting said contact arm when said pivotallymounted sector is shifted out of position to be wiped by said contactarm.

5. An electric switch comprising? a frame, a

panel mounted on the frame, a rotatable shaft having its axis ofrotation disposed on a line normal to the panel, an electric motor fordriving said shaft, circuit means for energizing the motor, including anormally closed motor energization control member associated with saidrotatable shaft, said member being adapted to open the circuit at theend of each revolution of the shaft for deenergizing the motor, acontact arm carried by said shaft and extending radially therefrom, aseries of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposedconcentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft in a circlenormally to be wiped by'the' contact arm, said panel being divided intosectors with a portion of the series of contact elements on each sector,one of said's'ectors 'being in fixed relationship with-respect to saidshaft, and at least one other of said sectors being pivotally mountedand adapted to be shifted away from the shaft to a position in which itis beyond the circle of revolution of said contact arm.

6. In combination with an electric motor, an electric switch forcontrolling the cyclic operation of chimes comprising; a shaft adaptedto be rotated upon energization of the motor, circuit means forenergizing the motor including a control member carried by said sha-f-t'adapted to I maintain energization' of the motor during substan tially afull revolution of the shaft and thereafter effect deenergization of themotor for stopping the rotation of the shaft after it completes a fullrevolution, a contact arm carried by the shaft, a panel disposed in aplane normal to the axis of the shaft, a series of contact elementsfixed on the panel and disposed concentrically with respect to the axisof said shaft and within the arc to be wiped by said contact arm duringthat portion'of the revolution of the shaft when the ene'rgization ofthe motor is being maintained by the control member, the said contact.elements on the panel being adapted for electrical connection with meansfor sounding a sequence-of chimes, said panel being divided into sectorswith a portion of the said series of contact elements on each sector,one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect to theshaft and at least one other of the said sectors being pivotally mountedand adapted to be shiftedwith respect to the shaft, whereby in theshifted position the contact elements carried by the pivotally mountedsector are out of position to be wiped by the 'rsaid contact arm.

HARRY C. ROWE.

REFERENCES CITED .The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

